Tag: Fawad Chaudhry

  • اپنا اپنا چاند

    اپنا اپنا چاند

    اللہ کا شکر ہے اس برس بھی ہم نے روایت کی پاسداری کرتے ہوئے عید کے چاند کو ایک بار پھر غیر متنازعہ بننے سے بچا لیا۔ ‘چن’ چڑھانے میں ویسے بھی ہمیں ملکہ حاصل ہے اس لئے سب سے پہلے پشاور والے پوپلزئی صاحب نے رویت ہلال کمیٹی کے اعلان سے قبل ہی چاند کی نوید سنا دی دوسری جانب کیونکہ نئے چئیرمین صاحب نام میں بھی آزاد واقع ہوئے ہیں تو اس بار کی رویت کا اعلان کرنے میں بھی وہ آزاد خیال ہی رہے بھلا ہو شاید کسی نے یاد کروایا کہ حضرت سحری کا وقت ہوا چاہتا ہے بتا دیں کہ سویاں پکانی ہیں یا سحری کا پراٹھا تو رات گئے رویت ہلال کمیٹی بھی آسمان سے چاند توڑ کر لے آئی اور  قوم کے قدموں میں نچھاور  کر دیا بجائے شکرگزار ہونے کے یار لوگ الٹا چاند ہونے نہ ہونے پر بحث کر نے لگ گئے بڑی ہی نا شکری قوم ہے بھئی کبھی اسے ‘تبدیلی’ ہضم نہیں ہوتی تو کبھی پانی سے چلنے والی گاڑی جیسے سائنسی انقلاب کو رد کر دیتی ہے۔ سائنس سے ویسے بھی ہمیں کو پرخاش ہے کیونکہ برصغیر میں جب لاؤڈ اسپیکر  نیا نیا آیا تو اس بیچارے پر بھی حرام ہونے کے فتوے لگ گئے ٹی وی تصویر وغیرہ وغیرہ سے مخاصمت کی کہانیاں بھی کوئی زیادہ پرانی نہیں۔

    خیر بات کہاں سے کہاں نکل گئی واپس آتے ہیں بےچارے چاند کی درگت بننے کے واقعہ پر جب یہ سارا معاملہ چل ہی رہا تھا تو اسی  اثناء میں ایک عدد آڈیو لیک بھی سامنے آ گئی جس میں ایک ممبر رویت ہلال کمیٹی کچھ اور ہی کہانی سنا رہے تھے اگرچہ ‘سافٹ وئیر’ اپڈیٹ ہونے کے بعد انکی وضاحت بھی سامنے آ گئی تھی۔ اور تو اور کیونکہ وزارت سائنس و ٹیکنالوجی فواد چودھری جیسوں سے پاک ہو چکی تھی اس لئے سائنس کی حقیقتوں کو لہرا لہرا کر کوئی چیلنج کرنے والا بھی موجود نہیں تھا لیکن وزارت اطلاعات میں ہونے کے باوجود بھی انہوں نے اپنے دور وزارت میں بنائی ایپ کے زریعے چاند کے حوالے سے بیان جاری کر دیا لیکن کیونکہ ہر کوئی اپنا اپنا چاند لے کر پھر رہا تھا تو انکی سائنسی دلیل کو کسی نے کوئی خاص گھاس نہیں ڈالی۔ قصہ مختصر یہ عید میٹھی ہونے کے ساتھ ساتھ چٹخارے دار بھی رہی کیونکہ عید کے دن ہر گھر کی محفل کا گرما گرم موضوع گفتگو ‘چاند’ ہی تھا سوشل میڈیا اور واٹس ایپ وغیرہ پر بھی  کوئی سائنسدان تھا کوئی ماہرفلکیات اور کوئی دینی عالم کی ذمہ داریاں نبھا رہا تھا۔

    مسئلہ بڑا سادہ سا ہے کہ کیا چاند کی رویت ایک خالص دینی مسئلہ ہے یا سائنسی؟ کیا اس کا کوئی درمیانی راستہ نکالا جا سکتا ہے جس کے تحت ملک اس افراتفری اور بدتمیزی کا شکار نہ ہو۔ اگر نظر ڈالی جائے تو مختلف اسلامی ممالک اس مسئلے کے حل کے لئے مختلف حکمت عملی اختیار کرتے ہیں ملائشیا،  ترکی مصر اور دیگر مسلم ممالک نے اپنا اپنا طریقہ کار بنا رکھا ہے کوئی خالص سائنسی بنیادوں پر رویت ہلال کرتا ہے تو کوئی سائنس اور انسانی آنکھ سے دیکھنے کو ملا کر ہم بھی دوسرے طریقہ پر ہیں لیکن بات کچھ بنتی نظر نہیں آ رہی اور اس بار کی عید پر تو معاملات اور ہی بگاڑ کی جانب چل پڑے تھے لیکن یہاں جہاں آپ نے سائنس کی بات کی نہیں وہاں ہمارے لوگوں کا مذہب خطرے میں پڑا نہیں۔ جہاں سائنس مذہب کی مددگار ثابت ہو رہی ہو تو پھر اس پر ہی یہ معاملہ کیوں نہیں چھوڑ دیا جاتا۔ آخر دیگر دینی معاملات بھی تو وقت کے ساتھ ساتھ سائنسی بنیادوں پر حل کئیے جا ہی رہے ہیں اور ماضی میں چھوڑے گئے بھی ہیں۔

    افسوس کا مقام ہے کہ آج جب سائنس اتنی ترقی کر چکی ہے کہ دنیا تو چھوڑ مریخ کے دو چاندوں کے بھی طلوع اور غروب کا وقت بتا دے تو ہم ایک خاندان میں دو دو عیدیں منا رہے ہوتے ہیں۔ پاکستان کے علما اور فقہا اور سائنسدانوں کی ایک کمیٹی بنا کر اس مسئلہ کو ایک ہی دفعہ کیوں نہیں حل کر لیا جاتا اور اس میں پشاور کے مفتی پوپلزئی صاحب کو بھی ہونا چاہئے تاکہ تمام اختلافی آراء کو ایک جگہ جمع کر کے ایک قومی اتفاق کی فضا بنا دی جائے یہ لوگ چاہیں تو دیگر مسلم ممالک سے رابطے کر کے انکے طریقہ کار پر رہنمائی بھی لے سکتے ہیں۔ قوم جو ایک انتشار اور ہیجان میں مبتلا رہتی ہے اور  اس قسم کی باتیں سننے میں آتی ہیں کہ جی روزہ تو قضا ہو گیا یا دیکھا آج تو چاند دوسری کا لگ رہا ہےسے یہ میٹھی عیدیں کھٹی کرنے کی کیا تک ہے۔

  • PM Imran Khan expresses grief over ‘Uncle Sargam’s’ demise

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed his grief over the death of Farooq Qaiser, the voice of the legendary fictional character Uncle Sargam.

    “Saddened to learn of Farooq Qaiser’s death,” wrote the PM on Twitter. “He was not just a performer but would constantly raise awareness about social injustices and issues.”

    “My condolences and prayers go to his family,” added the premier.

    Farooq Qaiser passed away on Saturday, May 14 after suffering a heart attack, his grandson Muhammad confirmed to Pakistan Television News (PTV).

    Besides PM Imran, other prominent personalities including Fawad Chaudhry, Humayun Saeed Adnan Siddiqui, Shaan Shahid, Ali Zafar and Maryam Nawaz also expressed their grief over the death of the legendary artist.

    Born in 1945 in Sialkot, Farooq Qaiser was a renowned puppeteer, artist and columnist and was associated with PTV from 1976. Qaiser spent his early childhood in Peshawar and Kohat and in 1970 graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from the National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore. Later he received a master’s degree in Graphic Arts from Bucharest, Romania in 1976 and also trained for puppetry there.

    He also received his master’s degree in Mass Communication in 1999 from the University of Southern California, School for Communication and Journalism, United States.

    With a prolific career, Qaiser was the recipient of the Pride of Performance Award (1993), the Lifetime Achievement Award (2010) and PTV’s Silver Jubilee Award besides many other national and international titles.

    Rest in peace Uncle Sargam! You have been an important part of our childhood.

  • FIA bars Shehbaz from leaving the country

    FIA bars Shehbaz from leaving the country

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif was stopped by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from leaving the country earlier today. According to the FIA, Sharif’s name is on the Person-Not-In-List (PNIL), which means that persons who are not on Exit Control List (ECL) or on black list can be stopped through PNIL. On Friday, the Lahore High Court (LHC) said Shehbaz has “one time” permission to fly abroad for medical treatment. Sharif was all set to take a flight to London but the FIA stopped him at immigration at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore.

    Talking to The Current, PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar said that this is a blatant violation of court orders despite FIA officials being present in court. “Such pettiness on behalf of the government has only exposed their nefarious designs.” Tarar, who is also part of the legal team in Sharif’s case, said that if this delay gives the prime minister satisfaction for a few days, “let him be happy”.

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that Director General (DG) FIA has the authority to remove a name from a black list. “Shehbaz Sharif’s lawyers have not submitted any application to DG FIA to remove his [Sharif’s] name from the blacklist.” Chaudhry added that communicating something verbally does not mean there will be any change in the record. “The government will move the court against this decision.”

    Talking to the media, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the FIA has added Sharif’s name in another list. She said that despite written order by the LHC, stopping Shehbaz Sharif from travelling is tantamount to contempt of court. Marriyum Aurangzeb added that now we are being told by the FIA that the system has not been updated even though there were two FIA officials present in court when the LHC granted Sharif permission to travel abroad.

  • ‘PM stands with the working class, not the elite’: Fawad Chaudhry

     Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry defended the prime minister’s remarks about envoys. “PM stands with the working class and not the elite.” PM Khan chastised Pakistani envoys recently over their missions’ indifferent behaviour towards the expat community.

    “If we can’t raise our voices for overseas Pakistanis, we don’t have any right to remain in government,” added Fawad Chaudhry.

    The minister stressed that Pakistan would have to uplift the working class to progress and to strengthen itself as a country. Fawad recalled that the PM had only instructed his ambassadors that the well-being and welfare of the overseas Pakistanis must be a priority.

    The information minister spoke about an incident involving an overseas Pakistani woman, saying that she was being subjected to unjust treatment over the past few years.

    “When she contacted an [Pakistani] embassy, she was told, ‘The police should take action against you for marrying thrice’,” said Chaudhry.

    Chaudhry said the prime minister had, on many occasions in the past, said he was proud of Pakistan’s ambassadors. He said a few embassies had “closed their doors” on overseas Pakistani labourers, adding that action should be taken against those found guilty. 

  • EXCLUSIVE: A lookback at Fawad Chaudhry’s shocking fitness routine

    EXCLUSIVE: A lookback at Fawad Chaudhry’s shocking fitness routine

    “It was like training someone who was utterly determined to be the best and he did get there.” This is what the owner of the gym Eleven, Waleed Saigol had to say about the time when Minister of Information Fawad Chaudhry used to regularly attend his gym in Lahore.

    Traveling when fit

    “Fawad Chaudhry was the focal point of people’s attention at the gym,” Waleed added, “and we really miss him and wish he would come back. When he first came it was difficult for him to walk at pace on the treadmill and at the height of his training, he was boxing like he was beating the opposition.”

    The Current reached out to Fawad after a video of him boxing like a champion went viral on social media.

    watch the viral boxing video

    “It was all because of Waleed Saigol’s perseverance that I managed to get to where I did,” the minister said, “I really want to get back on schedule. I’ve gained 15 KGs in three years and it’s terrible.”

    Hiking and timing the workout

    It’s no wonder that Fawad doesn’t have the time to be regular at the gym. After heading the ministry of science and technology and managing to take it from a defunct ministry to a cool one, he then was re-appointed as the Minister for Information. He remembers his workout days fondly and says he can’t wait to get back to the gym.

    Fitness days

    “The bigger issue is sleep,” Fawad told us, “I don’t get enough sleep and because of that my exercise routine is suffering.”

    It isn’t just the Information Minister who can’t focus on his fitness goals. A report in February stated that Prime Minister Imran Khan was also gaining weight because of the workload.

  • How electoral reforms will affect you

    How electoral reforms will affect you

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said the federal cabinet had approved two ordinances pertaining to the reforms in the country’s electoral system. The said electoral reforms consist of four parts; electronic voting machines (EVMs), e-voting for overseas Pakistanis, use of biometric authentication, and legislation,” the minister informed.

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1389548245496500229

    Out of the approved ordinances, one is in relevance to the electronic voting, whereas the other aims to facilitate overseas Pakistani voters. The ordinance authorizes the Election Commission to use the EVM machine. However, Fawad Chaudhry added, PML-N and PPP are reluctant on providing this EVM facility to the overseas Pakistanis.

    He emphasized that the government has fulfilled its responsibility regarding legislation on the subject. “Technological work is to be done on biometric and e-voting,” Fawad added.

    Fawad said that after the ordinance, it is up to the ECP to include overseas Pakistanis in the voting process.

    The move comes after PPP’s NA-249 by-election victory, which was declared a “stolen” election by the PML-N.

    It also comes after PM extended an invitation to Opposition parties to sit down with the government and work on electoral reforms so elections can be made fair and transparent for all.

  • Electoral reforms proposed for fair and transparent elections: Govt

    Electoral reforms proposed for fair and transparent elections: Govt

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Adviser to Prime Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, in a press conference, shared details of the government’s plans for electoral reforms for free and transparent elections within the country.

    Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs has proposed 49 amendments to the Election Amendment Bill 2020. Awan said that the reforms shall be put forth before all stakeholders, including civil society, media and Bar councils.

    Fawad Chaudhry stressed that the government wants to get the reforms passed from parliament through consensus. Chaudhry said that if the opposition parties are not ready to support the proposal for the electoral reforms, it will delay both political and democratic development within the country.

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1389146375192039426

    Yesterday, Shehbaz Sharif had spurned down the proposal of using an electronic voting system (EVS). He was responding to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s tweets on electoral reforms.

    PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif rejected PM’s proposal to use electronic voting machine. In a statement posted on Twitter, Shehbaz said, “Electronic voting system is rejected by the whole world. Pakistan Election Commission (ECP) has declared it unworkable. Such important national tasks cannot be performed at the request or order of an individual.”

    He further added that electoral reforms are a rather sensitive issue. “Electoral reforms can only take place after consultation of all parties, in the light of public opinion and through consensus.”

    “Instead of electronic voting, the government should worry about a ruined economy, skyrocketing inflation, unemployment and the ever increasing mortality rates,” Shehbaz Sharif added.

  • Politicians, journalists mark #WorldPressFreedomDay

    World Press Freedom Day is observed every year on May 3 and this year’s theme is ‘Information as a Public Good’. To mark the day, politicians, journalists and other key figures have stepped forward to call for freedom of press and media.

    United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres was also among those who marked this day. In his message, Guterres urged all governments to do everything in their power to support a free, independent and diverse media.

    Politicians and journalists from Pakistan including Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry and Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Information and culture Firdous Ashiq Awan also shared messages to mark the day and paid rich tributes to journalists.

  • Pakistan’s first media university to be set up in Islamabad, says Fawad Chaudhry

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has announced that the government plans to open the country’s first-ever media university in Islamabad, ARY News has reported.

    The minister said that the university will be opened in a vacant building in Islamabad, which has been empty for the past eight years.

    Fawad added that international professors will be called to teach at the university, adding that modern technology will also be taught there.

    The minister further said that this is for the first time in the country that animation, sound and lighting education will be given locally. He is hopeful that the media university will become the best varsity in the South Asia region.

    Fawad was recently reappointed Minister for Information and Broadcasting in a recent cabinet shuffle.

    Earlier, he also shared his plans on what he plans to do under his ministry.

    “The process that started in 2018 to initiate reforms in the Information Ministry is being resumed,” Chaudhry had said, adding that the project to make Pakistan Television HD will be completed by June 1. In addition to this, work on making PTV Sports HD is also in progress.

  • Prayers for India: PM Imran, cabinet ministers tweet in solidarity

    On Saturday, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan tweeted:

    “I want to express our solidarity with the people of India as they battle a dangerous wave of COVID-19. Our prayers for a speedy recovery go to all those suffering from the pandemic in our neighbourhood & the world. We must fight this global challenge confronting humanity together.”

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that in these difficult times, “our prayers are with people of India”.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed support for the people of India in the current wave of COVID-19.

    Apart from PM Imran and cabinet ministers, Pakistanis also expressed their solidarity with India. #PakistanStandsWithIndia trended as number 1 on Twitter.

    Yesterday, Faisal Edhi wrote to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering help in tackling COVID-19 in India.

    According to BBC, India has recorded nearly a million infections in three days, with 346,786 new cases overnight into Saturday. [hyperlink